Zoey Pizz, 4, holds a planet she decorated at the Fox Run Mall’s Earth Day celebration “Lil Planet Helpers” in Newington Saturday.
John Huff/ Staff photographer

NEWINGTON — Youngsters got an early exposure to environmentalism at the Fox Run Mall on Saturday during an event centered around Earth Day.

With Earth Day coming up on Monday, April 22, the mall held an early celebration for toddlers, inviting “Lil Planet Helpers” to gather for activities on Saturday.

The event took place in the Sears Center Court at 50 Fox Run Road in Newington, the interior space outside of the entrance to Sears. This year’s activities included pot decorating and seed planting, paper plate crafts and construction of Earth Day necklaces.

Volunteers from the YMCAs of Strafford County and the Seacoast were on hand to help children with activities, which also included a bean bag game and face painting.

“This was a blessing for us,” said father Nick King, of Hampton Falls, who brought his children, 5-year-old Celina and 1-year-old Xenia, to the mall on Saturday. King said his wife was being treated to a spa day in Manchester, leaving him to plan activities for the afternoon.

“I like the plants,” Celina said, moments after she planted cilantro seeds in a decorated pot.

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John Huff/Staff photographer
Celina King, 5, holds a pot with cilantro she planted at the Fox Run Mall’s Earth Day celebration “Lil Planet Helpers” in Newington Saturday.

The event was open to members of the “Simon Kidgits Club,” a new children’s group organized by the mall’s owner, Simon Malls. Children were also invited to participate for a $5 fee.